Journal Article

Hybrid and/or mixed infection by pig and human Ascaris in a Guarani indigenous village in southern Brazil

Bezagio, Renata Coltro, Gandra, Rinaldo Ferreira, Toledo, Max Jean de Ornelas, Carvalho, Marina Silva de, Massara, Cristiano Lara, Colli, Cristiane Maria, Abreu, Ana Paula de, Boeira, Veridiana Lenartovicz

2025

Overview

Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum are nematode parasites that infect millions of people and pigs worldwide, respectively. Reports of cross-infection and hybridization between the two species has stimulated molecular epidemiological studies of the Ascaris genus. In this study, we evaluated the dynamics of Ascaris transmission between Guarani indigenous schoolchildren, pigs, and the environment of a village in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. Parasitological and molecular analyses of fecal samples from humans and pigs, and soil samples from the village were carried out. Eggs of Ascaris spp. were observed in 8.4% (7/83) of human samples, 44.4% (8/18) of pig samples, and 8.9% (6/68) of soil samples. PCR amplification of the ITS-1 locus of the rDNA gene in samples that were positive in the parasitological examination revealed mixed infection and/or hybrids of the two species, A. lumbricoides and A. suum, in human and swine hosts. The soil, which was contaminated by both human and swine feces, also contained eggs of the two Ascaris species and hybrids, thus constituting a source of Ascaris infection for both hosts. DNA from A. lumbricoides and A. suum, individually, was detected in samples from humans and pigs, respectively, and the soil, while DNA from hybrid and/or Ascaris spp. was detected in samples from both hosts and the soil. The results of this study confirm the necessity of a One Health approach with the correct disposal of both human and animal feces to control the spread of human and swine ascariasis.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Adolescent / Age groups / Analysis / Animals / Ascariasis - epidemiology / Ascariasis - parasitology / Ascariasis - transmission / Ascariasis - veterinary / Ascaris / Ascaris - genetics / Ascaris - isolation & purification / Ascaris lumbricoides - genetics / Ascaris lumbricoides - isolation & purification / Ascaris suum - genetics / Ascaris suum - isolation & purification / Biology and Life Sciences / Brazil - epidemiology / Care and treatment / Censuses / Child / Coinfection - epidemiology / Coinfection - parasitology / Coinfection - veterinary / Cross-infection / Deoxyribonucleic acid / Diagnosis / Disease transmission / DNA / DNA, Helminth - genetics / DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - chemistry / DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - genetics / Eggs / Elementary school students / Epidemiology / Ethics / Faeces / Feces / Feces - parasitology / Female / Genomes / Health aspects / Hogs / Hosts / Humans / Hybridization / Hybridization, Genetic / Hybrids / Infections / Informed consent / Male / Microscopy / Mixed infection / Native peoples / Nucleotide sequence / Parasites / Parasitic diseases / People and places / Prevention / Research and analysis methods / Ribosomal DNA / Risk factors / Social Sciences / Soil / Soil - parasitology / Soil pollution / Soils / Students / Swine / Swine Diseases - epidemiology / Swine Diseases - parasitology / Swine Diseases - transmission / Tropical diseases / Villages